Questions on a few topics...Spousal Visa

Hi everyone. I am about to apply for my spousal visa (FLRM) in the next month so we will be leaning on the UKY comunity for all your invaluable support and assistance. We really could not be doing this without all of you.

In reading the excellent page "How to Apply for UK Spouse Visa from USA" I had a couple of questions.

1 -It says to pay for the NHS levy before submitting the online visa application. So when I DO submit my online visa application how will THEY know I have already paid for this? Am I given a code or some sort of "receipt"? I just want to know what to look out for. Also should I do this close to the time of application or does it matter?

2- This page also says..."if you wish to have your application processed as priority, you purchase the service on the day you mail your package."
How is this done? Wont I just be at the DHL office to mail the package? Seems like they will be out of the loop on this sort of thing.

3- "it is highly recommended to not book any flights until the visa is issued and inspected for accuracy." After the visa is issued what is the "window" we are allowed to fly within? More importantly what is the longest after the approval one could enter the UK? I would like to visit family here in US for leaving for UK


Next set of questions are about the visa process and the online application form.. I went to the main page of "Visa4uk" and literally did not get past GO...LOL... It says:
We are currently updating our online visa application service. You may be able to apply using our new service for visit visa applications if you are applying for a: - Marriage Visitor Visa

4- I want a Spousal visa. Is a Marriage Visitor Visa a Spousal Visa and should i use this "new service"?

5 - If i register an account can i start and stop the process if i am not sure how to answer a question? How long do I have to complete the form?

6-I feel like I am in good shape on this but just want to double check. The online for is a duplicate of VAF4A?

7-For Spousal visa we will need to fill out a hard copy and send with our documents a Appendix 2 VAF4A Financial Requirement form?

8-Do I need to include divorce papers for a divorce from 20 years ago?

Lastly... what happens after I get my visa? I got lucky and stumbled upon a thread that mentioned the requirement of going for a follow up biometric scan on the UK side but if I had not stumbled upon it I would have had no idea. So...

9 - What are required after I enter the UK short and long term? (Do I need to get my visa stamped upon entry? Do I need to get another biometric scan in the uk and where can I get this done and how soon? I understand my biometric residence permit BRP will also have my national insurance number NIN printed on it. Is there any other government agency I need to register with?)



As always thanks so much....



NWKH

Hang on, are you applying for a spousal visa or for FLR(M)?

They are two different visas and the advice I gave you earlier about not including a cover letter was for FLR(M), NOT for a spousal visa. You probably should include a cover letter for the spousal visa, stating the type of visa you are applying for, the date you would like your visa to start and a contents list of all the documents in your package.

Spousal visa:
- only issued outside the UK
- leave to enter (LTE) visa
- valid 33 months
- cost £1464
- IHS £600
- issued as a 30-day visa vignette in your passport to enter the UK and a BRP which you pick up once you arrive in the UK

FLR(M):
- only issued inside the UK to people living in the UK already
- further leave to remain visa (FLR)
- valid 30 months
- cost £993
- IHS £500
- issued as a BRP only

If you are applying for a Spousal Visa from the US, I would edit your topic title to ‘Spousal Visa’ and take out the FLR(M)... otherwise people may end up  giving you incorrect advice because they think you are applying inside the UK for an FLR(M) extension of your current spousal visa.


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If you are currently living in the US, you are applying for a spousal visa, NOT FLR(M).

So, to answer your questions about a spousal visa:

1. You will not pay the IHS until you submit the online application... you will be prompted to pay it. The online application is the last thing you do when you are completely ready to mail your documents to Sheffield for processing. You will be given an IHS reference number and you include this with your application.

2 - priority processing is an extra service offered by Sheffield for £551 (currently $771) which gets your application out to the front of the line when it arrives in Sheffield. You purchase it from the VFS Global website before you mail your documents, then you print the receipt, put it on the very top of your documents and write ‘Settlement Priority Service’ in very large letters on the outermost packaging. If you want to purchase your round trip or return shipping labels too (UPS shipping) you can do this on the VFS Global website at the same time ($141 just return or $227 round trip).

3 - you will have 30 days on your visa vignette to enter the UK... the Intended Travel Date you put on the online application will determine when your 30 days starts. You can put a date up to 3 months ahead of the date you submit your online application. If that date passes before your visa is issued, it will be made valid for 30 days from the date it is issued instead.

4 - no, a Marriage Visitor Visa is a 6 month visitor visa that allows you to come to the UK for a visit, get married, and the return to live in the US. You want a Settlement Visa and you select:
Settlement -> Settlement -> Wife (or Husband)... whichever you are


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Oops, accidentally posted the last message before I was finished!

5 - you can register an account when you like and you can start the application and just save it as you go until you are ready to submit it. The date you submit and pay for the application will be your official application date... so don’t do that until you are absolutely ready.

6 - yes, it is, and you also need to print and complete VAF4a Appendix 2, which is the second half of the application form. The paper VAF4a form doesn’t seem to be available at the moment (it’s just a one-page document)

7 - No, for a spousal visa, you fill out:
1) the online application and then print it once you have applied online
And
2) print a hard copy of VAF4a Appendix 2 and complete it by hand

8 - yes, you must include ALL divorce decrees for every application you make. Someone was refused last year for not including their divorce decree.

9 - when you get your visa, you will have the 30 days printed on your visa vignette to enter the UK and you must pick up your BRP from a designated Post Office within 10 days of arriving. You will NOT get your NI number printed on your visa - that’s only currently issued to Tier 2 work visa holders... so you will need to apply for a NIN yourself through the JobCentre after you have arrived.

You don’t need to register with any government agency when you arrive.

You can do things like:
- get your name put on bills etc.
- register with an NHS GP
- apply for a NIN
- open a bank account


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ksand24,

Thank you! You are always a huge help!!!!

I did change the post to Spousal Visa. Did not realize the difference. So many things.

I plan to post my supporting document check list in the next couple of weeks. So close we can almost taste the shepherds pie.....mmmmm.

Best,

NWKH